What is the Equivalent of a Town Square Where You Live?

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Open Education Week 2026 is still a bit out into the future (main activity March 2-6) but I am eager to warm up the participating waters here in OEG Connect.

You can blame me for this year’s metaphor of OEWeek as a “town square of open education”. I began thinking of the open markets I saw in my project time in Guadalajara and as well the places elsewhere inu the world that places open for sharing. I wanted to avoid the commercial aspects of markets, and through conversation with my OEG colleagues, a “town square” felt better.

Wikipedia defines a town square as:

A town square (or public square , urban square , city square or simply square ), also called a plaza or piazza , is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings.

And in fact, I have already used the “plaza” metaphor here in OEG Connect as the primary space for open discussions (I am, guilty of Too Many Metaphors).

Italian public square framed by stone buildings and with people milling about open spaces, included are cartoon versions of people and signage for Open Education Week
Italian public square framed by stone buildings and with people milling about open spaces, included are cartoon versions of people and signage for Open Education Week1280×847 183 KB

Piazza della Signoria.jpg Wikimedia Commons image by Samuli Lintula shared CC-BY, remixed with images by Mario Badilla/OEGlobal from OEWeek 2026 VIsuals Kit CC-BY

So this has come to be the visual metaphor for OEWeek 2026 thank to the brilliant design work of @Mario All of his media materials (icons, banners, slide templates, frlyer templates) are available for you to reuse as needed (under CC BY) from the OEWeek 2026 Visuals Kit.

That photo I remixed the graphcis with is of Piazza della Signoria in Florence Italy.

So this first OEWeek “DO” activity is seeking replies with images and names/descriptions of places where you live that embody this idea of a public gathering space. Show us what they look like, describe them, and also, is there a general name for this kind of place where you live?

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During my extended project visits 2015 and 2016 to Guadalajara, I was inspired by the nightly gatherings seen on the first visit right outside our hotel of the Plaza de la Liberación. People were there every night to talk, play music, share food - a bit dark at the bottom of this photo

Imgur
Sunset in Plaza de la Liberacián flickr photo by cogdogblog shared under a Creative Commons (BY 2.0) license

You’d find many plazas all across the city.

Where I live inow, a common gathering spot in Moose Jaw is its historic Main Street, during summer there are many street festivals and events-- this photo was from Moose Jaw Show and Shine when fans of classic cars bring them out to share.

Another common gathering place is the city’s Crescent Park with lush gardens (in the summer), public pool, city library, amphitheater.